1867. COLLINS, _The Public Schools_, 65. None showed more enthusiastic interest in these [Public School Cricket] matches than the late excellent Warden, Robert Speckott Barter.... He seldom missed a match at Lord’s from the time he played in the school eleven himself. He was a tremendous hitter in his day; and the remarkable punishment which he dealt out to the ball, when he was lucky enough to catch it on the “half-volley,” has given to a long hit of this character at Winchester (and even elsewhere) the name of a BARTER. *Bartlemytide*, _subs._ (general: old).—The summer holiday. *Base*, _subs._ (Harrow).—A goal: at football. *Basinite*, _subs._ (Charterhouse: obsolete).—A hot-water fag: he had to get hot water and towels ready for a monitor when he descended to wash in COCKS (_q.v._). *Bat-mugger*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A wooden instrument used in oiling cricket-bats. *Battal*, _subs._ (Harrow and Charterhouse).—Battalion drill for the Rifle Corps: usually (at Harrow) in the evening. [The second is the syllable accentuated.] *Battler*, _subs._ (general).—A student. _See_ BATTLINGS. *Battlings* (or *Battels*), _subs._ (general).—An allowance, in money or kind; apparently originally intended to supplement the meagre fare of fast-days. _Cf._ quots. Hence TO BATTEL = to take provisions from the buttery. 1607. WENTWORTH SMITH, _Puritan_ [MALONE, _Suppl._, ii. 543]. Eat my commons with a good stomach, and BATTLED with discretion. 1611. COTGRAVE, _Dict._... To BATTLE (as scholars do in Oxford), être debiteur au collège pour ses vivres. _Ibid._, Mot usé seulement des jeunes écoliers de l’université d’Oxford. 16 [?]. _Account rendered to Arch. of York_ [_William of Wykeham and His Colleges_]. Item for BATTLINGS on fasting days with the lent. 0. 9. 8. [_i.e._, 9s. 8d.] 1678. PHILLIPS, _Dict._, s.v. BATTEL. In the University of Oxford is taken for to run on to exceedings above the ordinary stint of the appointed Commons. 1744. SALMON, _Present State of Univ._, i. 423. Undergraduates consisting of Noblemen, Gentlemen-Commoners, Commoners, Scholars of the Foundation, Exhibitioners, BATTLERS, and Servitors.... The Commoners, I presume, are so called from their Commoning together, and having a certain portion of Meat and Drink provided for them, denominated Commons.... The BATTLERS are entitled to no Commons, but purchase their Meat and Drink of the Cook and Butler. 1786-1805. TOOKE, _Purley_, 390, _s.v._ BATTEL, a term used at Eton for the small portion of food which, in addition to the College allowance, the Collegers receive from the Dames.